RI Health Dept. Urges Residents To Take Coronavirus Precautions

The Rhode Island Department of Health is doubling down its efforts to prevent the transmission of viruses in the state amid concerns over the new coronavirus spreading within the community. The department is taking new steps and urging all Rhode Islanders to do everything they can to prevent the spread of disease.

"We know we will have community transmission of COVID-19 in Rhode Island at some point," said Dr. Nicole Alecander-Scott, the department's director of health. "It is critical that people stay home if they are sick or have been directed to stay home, and it is critical that we all do things like wash our hands regularly and avoid close personal contact, like handshakes, in public."

To help address residents' concerns and questions, the department set up a 24-hour hotline, 401-222-8022. After hours, Rhode Islanders can call 211 for assistance, or visit the department's website at any time.

"This is a situation that is evolving rapidly at the international and national levels," Dr. Alexander-Scott said. "We have been preparing for weeks at the Rhode Island Department of Health, but we need the partnership of all Rhode Islanders to help keep our state healthy and safe."

So far, there have been three confirmed cases of the virus in Rhode Island. 30 people have tested negative at the state health laboratory, and 12 results are still pending. At this time, approximately 250 people are self-quarantining after having direct contact with someone who has COVID-19.

While the state has enough tests for those who need them, only people with symptoms are being tested. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention do not recommend testing anyone who does not have any symptoms.

There are several respiratory viruses going around Rhode Island, meaning that having symptoms does not necessarily mean a person has COVID-19. In addition, a person is very unlikely to get the virus if they came into contact with someone who did not have any symptoms.

Statewide Prevention Efforts

Anyone who has traveled internationally or anywhere overnight within the U.S. is asked to self-monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 for 14 days. These include fever, cough or shortness of breath. Those who have traveled to China, Italy, Iran, South Korea or Japan are asked to self-quarantine for 14 days, staying home from work or school and remaining at home. On Thursday, Governor Gina Raimondo ordered all state employees who traveled to these countries to stay home and self-quarantine.

The Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training set up an assistance line and email address for those who have questions relating to the coronavirus and employment issues. During regular business hours, Rhode Islanders can call 401-462-2020, or email dlt.covid19@dlt.ri.gov at any time.

According to early data, older people are twice as likely to become seriously ill with COVID-19. On Friday, state officials held a call with the leaders of nursing homes around the state, establishing new protocols to protect healthcare workers and patients. Facilities have been asked to take the following measures:

• Restrict visitor hours.
• Not allow people to visit if they are younger than 18 years of age or are feeling sick or experiencing any of the following symptoms: cough, fever, chills, runny nose, stuffy nose, sore throat, or shortness of breath.
• Only allow residents to leave for medical appointments (as opposed to nonessential appointments, such as an appointment with a hairdresser or a visit to a family member). This policy is to keep residents safe by preventing a person from getting ill and bringing an illness back into the facility. In special circumstances, exceptions can be made from this policy, given the importance of mental and emotional health to the overall wellness of older adults. Families should work with nursing home administrators regarding special circumstances.
• Actively screen staff, visitors, vendors, and all other people who enter facilities for illness and COVID-19 risks (i.e., travel history, or exposure to someone under investigation for COVID-19). People who have traveled internationally in the last 14 days will be asked to not enter facilities.

Anyone over the age of 60 is encouraged to take extra steps to stay healthy, including avoiding close contact with anyone who is sick, stocking medical supplies at home and watching closely for symptoms of the virus, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath.

Governor Raimondo is asking school and higher education administrators to cancel planned international trips. Effective Monday, the University of Rhode Island will suspend all study abroad and planned international travel until the end of the semester, school officials said. On Saturday, he Community College of Rhode Island announced that it will cancel all upcoming international travel until further notice.

What Rhode Islanders Can Do

The new coronavirus is spread through respiratory droplets, the same way as the flu and other seasonal viruses. For this reason, health officials are reminding all Rhode Islanders to wash their hands thoroughly and often with hot water and soap, or to use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.

Residents are also advised to avoid close, personal contact with other people in public, particularly in churches and other faith communities.

All Rhode Islanders are encouraged to have a supply of over-the-counter medicines and other necessities for treating illness, such as tissues. Most people will be able to recover from COVID-19 at home. Anyone who believes they are developing symptoms is asked to call their doctor.

Other recommended measures include:

• Get a flu shot, and encourage those around you to do the same. While this will not help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, it is an effective tool to keep people with the flu from developing complications that require hospitalization.
• Cough or sneeze into your elbow rather than a hand or the air.
• Stay home from school or work if sick.
• Keep surfaces, especially bedside tables, bathrooms and children's toys clean by wiping them down with disinfectant.
• Get plenty of sleep, by physically active, manage stress, drink plenty of fluids and eat nutritious foods to maintain good health.

The CDC does not recommend that otherwise healthy people wear a face mask to protect themselves from respiratory viruses, including the new coronavirus. Only wear a mask if a healthcare provider instructs you to do so, the Department of Health said. Those with symptoms are asked to wear a mask to help prevent spreading the disease to others.

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Correction: A previous version of this article mistakenly stated that a person was “very likely” to get the coronavirus after coming into contact with an asymptomatic person. It has been corrected to say “very unlikely.”